Author's note: This chapter jumps back and forth between the gardens and Lily's room. I tried to add little breaks to help. Hopefully it's not confusing.

Oh, and Chapter 9 is nearly done too!

Late that night in the stables a meeting was held between the gardener, the blacksmith, and the minstrel.

"So fill us in, Smithy. How did it go?" started Jester.

"I asked; she accepted…easy as swinging a hammer. Course everything got a little more complicated this afternoon."

"Who would have thought Lily is really a lady?" said Rake still somewhat in shock. "But you seemed to take it all in stride, Smithy. Why was it so easy for you to accept?"

"I suppose it is because she has always acted like a lady… even before she knew she had a title. The way she talks, the way she carries herself…she's always had a nobleness about her. The part I struggle accepting is that she would still choose me. She is a lady and I am only a stable boy. I do not even have a proper outfit to wear when I escort her to the ball. All I own are two sets of work clothes." In frustration he ran his hand through his hair. "I suppose her choice of partner will be overlooked for one ball, but what if the King and Queen disapprove? There would be nothing I could do. I just wish there was some way that I could earn a title of my own," he finished, letting out a resigned sigh.

"Why, no problem there! You could just steal her away and ride off into the sunset on your pig cart!" Jester said in an attempt to cheer up his friend. Rake laughed quietly, but when Smithy did not respond Jester added more seriously, "The King has given me permission to look through the books on the wilderness years for my timeline. I imagine something important like granting nobility to a loyal subject would be included in the history. Maybe I can find something that will help."

"Thank you, Jester." Smithy gave his friend a half-hearted smile. "Well, have you two decided who will be next to ask the lady of his choice to the ball?" Both boys pointed at the other. The blacksmith chuckled. "Here, I will take two pieces of straw, one short and one long, and hold them both in my hand so you cannot tell the difference. Whoever chooses the short straw will be next."

Turning his back to them, Smithy arranged the straws in his hand so they looked the same height. Jester drew first and cheered when it turned out to be the long straw. Rake looked worriedly at his two friends.

"I have never asked Pepper anything special like this before. I am at a loss for even where to begin."

"Then you need something to help you get started. Maybe you could give her a gift." Smithy suggested.

"Pepper does seem to like my roses. Maybe I could bring her one…but what should I say to her? What if I finally get up the courage and when I go to speak my mind goes blank!"

"Then plan something simple," said Smithy.

"…and practice it over and over to yourself beforehand," added Jester. "I do that when I get nervous about a new ballad I have to perform before the King and Queen."

Rake nodded to them both. "Thanks. Could we meet again tomorrow night?"

"You bet."

"Definitely."

The three boys parted ways for the evening. An hour later Rake still lay awake in his hammock worrying over what he would say to Pepper. His overactive imagination had a tendency to act up whenever he faced something that made him nervous. He finally fell asleep still trying to think up ways to ask his sweetheart to the ball.

The next morning Rake was abruptly awakened by the snapping of a stick. He jumped up and grabbed a broom, ready to chase out whatever squirrel, rabbit, or pig might be attacking his precious garden. To his surprise he found not an animal, but a few rose petals. You do not belong here. He thought as he gathered them and headed up the steps to check the rose bush. I hope we do not have another flower thief. Rake found the bush looking nearly the same as it had the day before. If it was a thief, at least he had not taken all the flowers.

Cutting off the loveliest rose he could find, Rake headed back to his vegetable garden. With each step he grew more and more nervous. Peeking in at the kitchen window he saw Pepper was already hard at work. The mornings were the most difficult for her, so he decided to hide the rose among the cabbages and ask her to the ball later when she would not be so busy.

oOo

Lily awoke early, too excited about her new dress to sleep any longer. She had stayed up late into the evening finishing the alterations. The dress now fit her perfectly. During the night she had decided to add embroidery around the collar and sleeves. Walking to her box of threads she happened to glace out the window. With surprise she noticed a horse and rider racing away from the castle. Taking a closer look she thought, it almost looks like Gunther and his steed, but he is never up this early. She shrugged, deciding that if it was anything important the knights would take care of it. Choosing a spool of chocolate brown thread, she sat down to begin the intricate border.

Later that morning Smithy was tending to the horses when he was startled by a deep cough behind him. The young man turned to find Sir Theodore with a set of deep brown courtly clothes in over his arm. The color reminded Smithy of the earth after a hard storm.

Clearing his throat again, Sir Theodore began, "These are for you." Smithy looked at him in shock. "The walls are thinner than you think. I could not help but overhear your plight last night."

Rubbing the dirt off his hands, Smithy took the clothes. Though old fashioned, they looked practically unworn. Joy and surprise glowed in his eyes as he bowed to the knight.

"Thank you, Sir. May I ask why you would give such a fine gift to a simple stable boy?"

With a sad, far-off look in his eyes, Sir Theodore replied, "I know what it is like to loose a love because others are not able to see past the clothes you wear." Clearing his throat yet again he gave Smithy a grin. "Now run these up to your lady so she can make sure they fit you properly."

When Lily saw the outfit, she clapped her hands in delight. "There is a screen in the corner there. Hurry and try it on!"

As he changed, she hummed to herself and practiced the steps to the final dance yet again. Cautiously he stepped out from behind the screen. The sleeves were too long as were the legs, but few other alterations needed to be made. To Lily, he had never looked better. She could do little more than tilt her and sigh at the striking young man before her.

"Is it that bad?" Smithy said, looking down at himself.

"Bad?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "Not at all. In fact you could easily pass for a prince or a lord, a very handsome prince or lord at that." She smiled coyly over at him.

The blacksmith looked up in surprise then returned her smile. "Really? Well then, at least I will look the part when I take you to the ball."

"There is only one thing missing..." The seamstress crossed the room and placed her hand over his heart. "…right there. You need a crest. The Queen was teaching me about crests just the other day. They help provide identification at balls and tournaments since you may see someone only once every couple of years. Most crests use animals, weapons, or even plants. I could use Pig, but she would look so tame and I would not feel right making her into a ferocious boar. Wait, I know… a shield and hammer would be the perfect symbols for you: strong and dependable."

Smithy was again amazed at how deeply her words touched his heart. A few kind comments from Lily and he felt as though he could fight an army or leap a building. At times like these Smithy wished he had Jester's ability with words. Instead he had to let his actions speak for him. Wrapping his arms around her waist, Smithy pulled her close. Lily rested her hands lightly on his chest and looked up at him contentedly. Gently he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He lingered, enjoying the smoothness and warmth of her skin. Lily closed her eyes and felt a warm tingle run through her body. Deep in her heart she knew that the security she felt when wrapped in his arms would always mean more to her than words ever could.

Reluctant to let her go, he let out a soft laugh. "I had better change and get back to work. Pig will be awfully cross with me for having not fed her yet."

oOo

By noon Rake had worked up the courage to talk to Pepper. Taking the rose out of its hiding place he headed towards the kitchen. Unfortunately he did not see Pepper as she carried a pitcher of water out for lunch until it was too late. When they collided she managed to keep a hold on the jug, but in the process splashed water all over herself. Dropping the rose in a corner, Rake grabbed a nearby cloth so she could dry off.

"I'm sorry Pepper." He stared at the ground and rubbed his arm in that nervous manner that Pepper found absolutely adorable.

Wiping her arms with the cloth she replied, "No, it is my fault Rake. I should have been watching. It is only water. In fact it might help cool me off while I am working on tonight's pea soup for the Queen." She laughed good-naturedly before heading back into the kitchen leaving Rake to mentally kick himself for his clumsiness.

oOo

Jane dropped a bolt of red cloth and her old green dress on Lily's bed. The seamstress was just finishing the crest on Smithy's tunic.

"My mother asked me to bring these up to you. What do you need them for? Are you making yourself a dress for the ball?"

"Actually… I was hoping to make you an outfit to wear to the ball." Lily replied quietly.

Jane's eyes flashed. "A dress, you mean. Did my mother talk you into this? She knows that I am a knight-in-training now, not a lady. I absolutely refuse to wear a dress to the ball."

"Not a lady? Of course you are a lady, Jane." Lily used a quiet tone, attempting to soothe Jane's anger. "When you became a squire, you didn't stop being a lady. How many times have I heard Jester call you 'lady knight'? That is what you are, both a lady and a knight."

"Pepper said the same thing last night at dinner and I cannot seem to get it out of my mind." Jane took a seat on the bed and sighed.

"Lily, when I first became a knight-in-training it was very difficult to get everyone to treat me like a real squire. The other knights constantly made fun of me. My mother did anything she could think of to get me to give up this 'silly obsession'. Every day I woke up scared to death that the King would tell me that he hoped I enjoyed my time pretending to be a knight, but I now needed to return to my duties as a lady-in-waiting.

"I had to work long and hard to earn their respect. I endured tough training sessions in rain and snow. Some of the bruises I received lasted for months. Most of the teasing has finally stopped, except from Gunther. If I were to dress like a lady, even for one night, it could undo all that hard work."

"What if I made you an outfit that combined both pieces of your identity? I could keep the skirt of your gown, but make it more knightly… perhaps with embroidered flames around the hem?" Jane's eyebrows perked up. "With the red cloth I thought I could make you a tunic just like Sir Theodore's. A crest of a dragon on the front would be perfect. Maybe we could even use your scabbard instead of a belt."

Jane leaned back in surprise. "That certainly does not sound like a lady's gown."

"Of course not, for you are not just a lady, you are also a knight. You should have a gown that honors you as a knight."

"How did you ever get my mother to agree to such an outfit?"

"She simply required that I keep the skirt. Your mother only wants to protect you from the scandal which would certainly result if you wore only a tunic and tights to the ball."

"Hmf…" Jane rolled her eyes. "What about Gunther? If I attended the ball in a gown of any type he would tease me about it every opportunity he gets."

"Gunther just enjoys teasing people. If you chose to not attend the ball at all he would probably tease you about that." Jane grimaced and nodded in agreement. Lily laid a hand on Jane's arm. "Besides Jane, I need you at the ball with me. The Queen has been teaching me almost every day how to be a lady and I would hate to disappoint her. You know how to behave properly at courtly gatherings and could keep me from embarrassing myself. Please Jane, please come to the ball."

Jane gave her friend a half smile and patted her hand reassuringly. "I'm sure you would be just fine without me, Lily." Rising to leave, she said, "I need more time to think. When I became a squire I assumed that meant leaving behind all parts of my life as a lady-in-waiting. The idea that I could be both is still somewhat new and confusing. Let me give you an answer tomorrow."

oOo

In the past ten minutes Rake had asked first the tomatoes, then the carrots, and finally the peas to the ball. After all that practice he finally felt ready to ask Pepper. The young cook was busy preparing apple tarts when Rake entered the kitchen, carrying the rose behind his back.

"What do you have there?" Pepper asked with a suspicious twinkle in her eye.

"I…" began Rake. Unfortunately that was as far as he got in his practiced speech. For in his attempt to hand the rose to Pepper, he knocked over the whole bucket of apples. He hurriedly knelt to help her pick the fruit off the floor.

"I am sorry Pepper."

"What has gotten into you, Rake? You are never this clumsy."

"I suppose it is my nerves."

"What do you have to be nervous about, silly boy? Your vegetables are the best in the land, your garden looks completely weed free, and I have not seen a single rabbit all week!" She placed the bucket back on the table.

Holding the rose out before him, the gardener looked into her eyes and answered, "Nervous about asking you to the ball."

"The ball!" squealed Pepper in delight. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight. "Oh Rake, you wonderful boy, I am the happiest girl alive."

A relieved smile spread across the boy's face. "…and you have made me the happiest boy." He finished picking up the apples then headed off to the garden, whistling as he went.

Author's note: I reread Theodore's profile the other day and was intrigued. Perhaps I'll write a story for him next!